The Uttarakhand Police in Dehradun has booked members of Hindu Yuva Vahini for putting up banners outside temples in the city that say ‘the entry of non-Hindus is prohibited’.
The Station House Officer of Kotwali Police Station in Dehradun told Clarion India over the phone that the police have filed a case under section 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) against Jitu Randhawa, an activist whose contact number was mentioned on the banners.
“We have not yet arrested him,” said SHO Sheeshpal Negi, “For now we have registered the case.”
Reportedly, the banners came up on March 20 and 21 in support of Yati Narasimhanand Saraswati, the head priest of a temple in the Dasna area of Ghaziabad which is in news after a Muslim boy was assaulted for drinking water inside the temple compound.
The person Shringin Yadav who assaulted the boy was arrested but has since then been released. He is giving interviews justifying his act. The Dasna temple which is situated in an area with considerable Muslim population has a banner emblazoned at its gate which reads, ‘Muslims are not allowed inside’.
On Wednesday, March 17, two Muslim journalist associated with Millat Times who went to Dasna to cover the story alleged that they were not allowed to enter the temple compound to interview the priest.
Millat Times has written a letter to the Press Council of India alleging that their reporters faced discrimination on the ground of religion and it was a clear case of obstruction in the performance of legitimate work of their journalists. They have demanded action in the matter.